Piedmont briefs: Wildwood Dads Club crab feed Feb. 2

Pig out on fresh Dungeness crab at the Wildwood Dads Club crab feed from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 2.

All are welcome to attend this fundraiser for the school that takes place at Piedmont Veterans Hall, 401 Highland Ave.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for music and cocktails, with dinner at 7 p.m. Menu includes salad, all-you-can-eat crab, lasagna and no-host bar. The Wildwood Dads will put on a show; there will be a raffle and live music.

Tickets are $50 per person, with 10 drink tickets for $20 and 10 raffle tickets for $20.

Consider donating new or gently used books at the fundraiser appropriate for first- and second-graders and multicultural and Spanish-language books, which will be donated to needy East Bay children. Funds raised at past events have contributed to new play structures, computers and other amenities for Wildwood students. For more information, visit www.wildwooddadsclub.org/

-- Linda Davis

Children's choir holding local auditions Feb. 2

Internationally acclaimed Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir is holding auditions for boys and girls ages 4 and up between 9:15 a.m. to noon Feb. 2 by appointment.

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Auditions will be at the Veterans Hall, 401 Highland Ave., Piedmont. Artistic Director Robert Geary leads the program of vocal training and music education that has 12 different choirs, ranging from kinder levels up.

Advanced groups have won international awards and collaborate with orchestra and opera companies. Rehearsals are held weekly after school. To schedule an audition call 510-547-4441 or email registration@piedmontchoirs.org.

-- Linda Davis

Piedmont LWV hosting many programs, events

The Piedmont League of Women Voters has several upcoming special programs and events.

On Jan. 23, there will be a program planning and soup lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 519 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont. The league will discuss statewide positions on issues that effect the state, city and everyone. They will review current issues and opinions and discuss if there should be changes. New members are encouraged to attend to see how the league functions.

Bay Area League Day from 9 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. Feb. 2 will focus on the importance of water in California. Cost in advance is $30, or $15 without lunch; at the door $35, or $20 without lunch. For more details, call 510-839-1608 or email editor@bayareamonitor.org.

The league will hold a forum from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 7 regarding the school support tax for Piedmont schools. Learn more about the proposed parcel tax on the March 5 ballot. Meet at Piedmont City Hall chambers, 120 Vista Ave.

-- Linda Davis

Annual Pinewood Derby scheduled for Feb. 9

Girl Scouts and their friends can test their car-making and car-racing skills at the ninth annual Pinewood Derby to be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at Piedmont Community Church, 10 Highland Way, Piedmont.

Boys and girls will compete in their age categories; each category will receive a trophy. Non-Scouts can also compete in the separate friend/sibling category.

There is a car-making workshop from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 26 at Piedmont Middle School, Room 125, 740 Magnolia Ave. There is a practice session from 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 2 at the church.

Registration deadline is Jan. 26. Bring registration form and check for $15 made out to Girl Scout Troop 31526. Cars must be purchased from the troop. No other cars allowed.

A federal judge Monday denied requests to shut down the nation's largest medical cannabis operation, setting up a legal battle later this month between the city of Oakland and federal prosecutors.

In a 17-page order, Chief Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James found that the landlords of Harborside Health Center "have no right of action" under the federal Controlled Substances Act to force the cannabis dispensary "to cease its operations."

The owner's of Harborside's Oakland and San Jose locations have been trying to evict the dispensary since U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag filed suit last July threatening to seize the properties because they are rented to a business that sells cannabis.

Oakland, which last year received more than $1 million in tax revenue from Harborside, has filed suit against the federal government, challenging the forfeiture action. Attorneys for the city had asked James not to shut down the dispensaries before its challenge was heard.

Federal prosecutors have filed a motion to dismiss the city's case. A hearing on the federal government's motion is scheduled for Jan. 31.